The construction of a roof is a crucial step in building a house. In addition to the aesthetic function, the roof has the fundamental role of protecting the construction against bad weather, such as rain, sun and wind. Therefore, it is extremely important that its construction be done with care, using the appropriate materials and following the technical standards. In this chapter, we will detail the materials needed to build a roof and how they should be used.
1. Roof structure
Before starting to build the roof, it is necessary to build the structure that will support it. This structure is usually made of wood, but it can also be made of metal. The main components of the roof structure are the trusses, which are the structural elements that support the roof loads and transfer them to the walls of the house.
2. Materials for the roof structure
The materials needed for building the roof structure depend on the type of structure you are going to build. If the structure is wood, you will need wood planks and beams, nails, screws, and tools for cutting and securing the wood. If the structure is made of metal, you will need metal profiles, screws and tools to cut and fix the metal.
3. Roof coverage
After the construction of the structure, the next step is the installation of the roof covering. The roof is the material that will be exposed to the weather and that will protect the house against rain, sun and wind. There are several types of materials that can be used to cover the roof, such as ceramic tiles, fiber cement tiles, metal tiles, among others.
4. Roof covering materials
The materials needed for roof covering installation depend on the type of covering you are going to install. If your roof is ceramic tiles, you will need tiles, grout to fix the tiles, tools to cut the tiles and to apply the grout. If the roof is made of fiber cement or metal tiles, you will need tiles, screws to fix the tiles and tools to cut the tiles and to fix the screws.
5. Roof finish
After installing the roof, the last step is to finish the roof. The finish has the function of improving the aesthetics of the roof and protecting the structure and roof against the action of time. The finish can be done with painting, application of varnish, installation of gutters and flashings, among others.
6. Materials for finishing the roof
The materials needed for finishing the roof depend on the type of finishing you are going to do. If finishing with paint, you'll need paint, brushes, paint rollers, and tools to prepare the surface and apply the paint. If finishing with installing gutters and flashings, you will need gutters, flashings, screws to secure the gutters and flashings, and tools to cut and secure the screws.
In short, building a roof involves several steps, each of which requires specific materials. It is important to plan the construction of the roof well, choose the right materials and follow the technical standards to guarantee the quality and durability of the roof.
